Do not be unbelieving but believing

Awakening to life

September 19, 2009

Adam awakened to life with a powerful innate sense of his Creator near. He takes a deep breath of gratitude for the life he now possesses. He looks around and begins to explore his new world. He caches a glimpse of a brightly plumed bird and calls out “parrot”, as if it could not be named anything else. He walks over to a pool of water and bends down. Seeing his reflection he studies himself, smiling as he does, pleased at what he sees. He playfully dips his hand into the pool to catch a “fish”, as he so declares it to be. No sooner has he done so, than he forgets his intentions and with elation revels in the feel of the water. Cool and refreshing, he instinctively drinks in the water from his cupped hands.

He continues to walk through the garden, careful to name every creature that comes within his field of vision. It was an interesting job, endued with purpose. He liked to hear the new sounds roll off his tongue. Each name was unique and meaningful. He felt a sense of duty and pride in his accomplishment as he named each creature. Yet, slowly an emptiness of that pride came over him. The sound of his own voice began to satisfy him less and less. It was as though the sound was meant to be shared. The animals each in turn responded to his voice, but none were able to grasp the significance. Through it all, there was a growing sense of his loneliness, as he noticed that each creature had a companion comparable, yet not identical.

Thirsty, he returned to the pool of water. Before drinking, he again desires to admire his reflection. He grinned but it slowly faded away. Yes, he was handsome but what did it matter? Who would even notice him? He realized a reflection is a poor companion in deed. He quickly thrusts his hand into the water, more out of a need to disrupt his sad thoughts than out of thirst. Tired of exploring his new world and with a desire to forget his somber feelings, he lies on a fresh carpet of grass and enters a deep sleep of dreams.

As he enters his world of dreams, he meets a friend. Together, they walk along throughout the garden enjoying each individual flower tending as they go. They run across the meadows, climb some trees and play in the water. The joy he feels plays across his face as he sleeps. But his smile is not alone, for God also stands by smiling in His own way knowing the dream and its present fulfillment. Deep in sleep Adam feels no pain, yet senses as a rib is carefully removed from his body.

He continues to smile as he slowly begins his ascent from dream land. A smile only disrupted by the remembrance of the last conscience thought of loneliness. He would have desired to return to the land from whence he had just come, if it was not for the sense of another presence. Whatever it was, it was close enough for him to feel its breathing. Not sure what he should do, he remains still, trying to hide his wakefulness. But it was to no avail for the one present was little fooled by this tactic and as such a soft giggle escaped. To him, the giggle was more melodious than any of the song birds he had already named. With its sound, faded all the feelings of loneliness he had experienced and in its place returned the pleasant smile to his face. This came to the great delight of the beholder who responded with another soft giggle. With this, he opened his eyes wishing to see the source of this enchanting music. He could not believe what he saw. Gazing into his eyes were eyes just like his, but not quite his own. The smile that followed the movement of his smile was similar, but not quite the same. It was as though he was looking at his reflection, improved upon many times over. So similar, it was, yet so different. He was bewildered as to what intrigued him the most, the similarities or the differences.

As he looked, he began to raise himself up to get a better look. His recent dream flashes across his mind, but this far surpasses in idea and substance. It is undreamable yet real. New feelings of exhilaration filled his soul. Just as he had named the many other creatures, he understood that this one must have the greatest honor, being the fairest of all. He opened his mouth and declared, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Though many a creature he had named before, none responded with such pleasure and delight as this one, upon hearing her name. Adam felt satisfied. For him, at last, Paradise had real meaning. Paradise had someone to share it with. Paradise had truly become paradise. Thomas Fleming Oct 11, 2007